Faith -> Perseverance -> Faith

So if you know me or anything about me, all it takes is a single conversation to work out that my thoughts move infinitely faster than my words do. It’s why I’m a much better writer than a conversationalist. As such, we’re going to explore two completely opposite ends to the same topic.

Because friends, it's time to lace up.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

But we’re not there yet. If you’re reading this, you’re not there yet.

Your fight isn’t over.

Your race isn’t finished.

For some of us, perhaps it hasn’t even begun yet. And that’s okay. There’s a word for that. It’s called today. Start today. Don’t give up, lace up, and start your race today.

From 2 Timothy, if you go right in your Bible, you'll land in Hebrews. Hebrews contains one of my favorite Scriptures of all time.

Hebrews 11 opens with a great definition of the word “faith.” “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” The subsequent verses talk briefly on some of the Biblical leaders of the faith.

Abel’s sacrifice.

Enoch’s taking.

Noah’s ark.

Abraham’s trek, and those of his descendants Isaac and Jacob.

Sarah’s pregnancy.

Hebrews 11:13 is where the magic happens. “All these people were still living by faith when they died.”

You see . . . if there’s breath in our lungs, a beating heart in our chest, then our race isn’t over because the finish line isn’t found this side of heaven.

A chapter over, in Hebrews 12:1, we are encouraged, then, to run with perseverance.

Perseverance. That part’s important. Perseverance means to keep going despite difficulty or delay. Because remember, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we will experience difficulty.

What’s Jesus say? Take heart!

What’s the Bible say? Keep going!

Persevere.

This is where it gets fun.

This is the part where my thoughts get a little ahead of the sermon.

Because, in my runner’s mind (remember my default setting I’ve shared, always running away), we are never not running!

Every day we wake up, we are presented choices to make.

I’m gonna live by faith, or I’m gonna be ruled by fear.

I’m gonna worship, or I’m gonna worry. I’m gonna wallow.

I’m gonna run to Christ . . . or I’m gonna run away from Him.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.”

“Follow Me.”

He’s asking for commitment.

And commitment demands a choice. Deny our own desires and follow Him or determine to go our own way and deny Him. Either way, our feet are moving.

Now sixty seconds real time is about sixty minutes in my brain, and it was about this time in the sermon that my ears clocked back in.

The pastor shared “God is alive and sitting on the throne, so why are we still sitting here?”

And I thought “How true that is too! How many times have I taken a "quicksand approach," too paralyzed by fear to take a single step?”

The truth is . . . a lotta times! I’ve often joked that when it comes to Fight or Flight, I choose option C. Fright!

But why? Not all poems rhyme, and there’s a fourth option to turn to in life’s stickier moments: Faith.

And to enter the ring, all faith requires is that we look up.

We’re on earth below, but in heaven above, God is alive and sitting on the throne.

Look up.

If we’re in the fire, great! Jesus is there too!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

-James 1:2-3

There’s that word again. Perseverance. Look up, then lace up.

James 1:4-6 encourages us to persevere to completion so we lack nothing, however, if we find we ourselves lacking wisdom, to ask for it, and not only that, but believe God will grant it to us. Or in other words, have faith.

It’s an endless cycle. This is my favorite part.

Isaiah 40:31 was one of the first Scriptures I ever memorized. My high school soccer coach used to have us chant this verse before every game. (Not related, but possibly related), that first season with her was the first season we won even a single game, then went on to win many.

So the verse goes “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

So that cycle I mentioned, that favorite part: If you’re struggling to persevere, look up. Grow your faith. If your faith’s weakening. Lace up, persevere, because it’s the very perseverance amidst trial and suffering that’ll grow your faith.

Faith yields perseverance. And perseverance yields faith.